Feeding mechanism for sewing machines



June 29, 1954 J. F. PALME ET AL FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed April 24, 1951 WI TNESS mum 5 SheetS -Sheet l nllllllllllllllllllllfil n INVENTORS Hosef 5? cTah/ne and By H'acob W/l. @emxia g ATTORNEY June 29, 1954 J 5-7 PALME r AL 2,682,242

' FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHIlfES Filed April 24, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 1954 J. F. PALME ET AL 2,

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed April 24, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS WITNESS BY Uaco Q/I/Lfliimm'm ATTORNEY Patented June 29, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Jersey Application April 24, 1951, Serial No. 222,616

This invention relates to sewing machines and more particularly to feeding mechanisms especially adapted for use with family type machines in which there is provided a means, usually known as a feed-dog throw-out, for rendering the work-feeding mechanism ineffective by depressing the feed-dog of the sewing machine below the upper surface of the work-support and maintaining the feed-dog in depressed position in order that work may be shifted by hand for the purpose of darning, embroidering and other sim ilar operations.

Feed-dog throw-out devices have previously been used to render the work-feeding mechanisms of sewing machines ineffective when it is desirable to use the sewing machine for darning and embroidering operations. A feed-dog throwout device of this type is disclosed in United States Patent No. 1,879,191, issued September 27, 1932; the present device constituting an improvement over the device disclosed in that patent and having as its primary object to provide an improved feed-dog throw-out device which is easy to manufacture and at the same time effective in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved and simplified feed-dog throw-out which may easily be manipulated by the sewing machine operator.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved feed-dog throw-out mechanism that is especially adapted for use in sewing machines wherein the feed-lift rock-shaft and the feed-advance rock-shaft are both positioned to the rear of the loop-taker shaft.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved feed-dog throw-out mechanism that is especially adapted for use on family machines and which will not produce objectionable noises while the sewing instrumentalities are in operation, regardless of whether the feed-dog is raised to operating position or depressed to the inoperative position.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention, from which the several features of the invention and the advantages attained thereby will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

In the drawings, which form a part of this specification,

9 Claims. (01. 112-210) place by a nut l9.

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a portion of a sewing machine embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view as seen in the direction of the arrow 3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, but with the sewing machine in an upright position, Fig. 4 showing the feed-dog raised for regular stitching operations,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of some of the elements shown in Fig. 4 but with the feeddog thrown-out or disengaged from a portion of the mechanism which operates it,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the broken line 66 of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 7'| of Fig. 2.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed as comprising a sewing machine having a substantially rectangular bed-plate or base providing on its upper side a work-supporting plate l2 and provided on its under face with a plurality of transversely and longitudinally extending strengthening ribs l3, downwardly extending front and rear walls l4 and I6, and end walls I! and I8, forming a boxlike enclosure, of which the downwardly facing opening is normally closed by a bottom cover-plate l9 held in A hinged extension plate 2|] is pivotally mounted on screws 20' in a manner shown in Patent No. 2,063,841, issued December 8, 1936.

A hollow standard 2| (Fig. 2) rises from the bed I I and at its upper end the standard carries an overhanging bracket-arm 2| terminating in a hollow head 22 closed by a face-plate 23 and housing portions of the usual reciprocatory needle-bar 24 and Dresser-bar 25. The upper part of the bracket-arm 2| is closed by a coverplate 2t held in place by known means.

A main drive-shaft (not shown) housed in the bracket-arm 2| drives the reciprocatory needle-bar 24, in a known manner, and this same drive-shaft, in a manner shown and described in patent application Serial No. 774,597, filed September 17, 1947, now Patent No. 2,617,375, dated November 11, 1952, drives a looptaker shaft 27 which in turn drives a loop-taker 28 arranged to cooperate with a suitable thread carrying needle 29 in the formation of stitches. Inasmuch as the stitch-forming mechanism, per se, forms no part of this invention, a complete illustration and description thereof is deemed unnecessary. If desired, the stitch-forming mechanism may be constructed and operated as disclosed in the above noted United States Patent No. 2,063,841.

The work-support I2 is provided with a throatplate 6d having feed-slots 32, through which operates a serrated feed-dog 34 secured by screws 3? on one end of a long feed-bar 36. Reference to Figs. 2 and 4 shows that the free end of the feed-bar 36 and the feed-dog 34 are located directly over the loop-taker shaft 2'1. At its rearward end, the feed-bar 36 is pivotally connected, as at 38, to the upper ends of a pair of feedadvance rockers -39 extending upwardly from a feed-advance rock-shaft 4| journaled on suitable pintles, of which one is shown at 42. Also journaled on pintles, of which one is shown at 43, is a feed-lift rock-shaft 44. It will be noted that the feed-advance rock-shaft 4! is located adjacent the rear wall it, that the loop-taker shaft 21 is located toward the front wall i4, and that the feed-lift rock-shaft is located between the shaft 4! and the shaft 21. oscillatory movements are given to the feed-advance rock-shaft 4| and to the feed-lift rock-shaft 44 by any suitable means such, for example, as disclosed in the above noted Patent No. 2,617,375.

As previously stated, the feed-dog carrying portion of the feed-bar 35 overhangs the looptaker shaft 21 and, at a location just to the rear of the loop-taker shaft 21, the feed-bar 36 is provided with a depending lug 41. The lower end of the depending lug 4'! carries a horizontally extending pin 48 that pivotally mounts the lower end of an upwardly extending link 49. The upper end of the link 49 is pivotally connected by a pin 5| to one arm 52 of a horizontally extending lever 53, having a center hub 54 freely journaled on the feed-lift rock-shaft 44. The hub 54, as best seen in Figs. 5 and 6, is provided with an annular recess 56 concentric with the shaft 44. The recess accommodates a helical spring 51 having one end anchored in a hole 58 formed in the lever 53 and having its other end anchored in a hole 59 provided in a flange 6! formed integral with the feed-lift rock-shaft M, the flange 6| being located adjacent one side face of the lever 53 and thus preventing the lever 53 from movement longitudinally of the feed-lift rockshaft 44. The lever 53 is held from movement in the other direction longitudinally of the shaft 44, by a spring wire clip 62 seated in a groove in the shaft 44. Another arm 63 of the horizontal twoarmed lever 56 is apertured (Fig. 6) by a horizontally extending funnel shaped hole or clearance aperture having a cylindrical portion 64, and having at its end nearest the wall I! and thus remote from the crank-arm 68, hereinafter mentioned, a concave frusto-conical countersink or seat portion 66 for seating a convex frustoconical self centering member 6'? presently to be described.

It will be noted that the two arms 52 and 63 of the lever 53 extend horizontally on opposite sides of the feed-lift rock-shaft 44, the arm 52 extending toward the loop-taker shaft ill in the front of the sewing machine bed, and the arm 63 extending toward the feed-advance rock-shaft 4| in the rear of the bed. It will also be noted, as best seen in Fig. 6, that the lever 53 is of uniform thickness as measured in the direction of the axis of the feed-lift rock-shaft 44. Also the seating members 66 and 6'! are both of symmetrical, frusto-conical form, and the cylindrical portion ell) 64 and the frusto-conical portion 66 are concentric.

The hereinbefore mentioned feed-lift rockshaft 44 carries a horizontally extending crankarm 68 adjacent and formed integrally with the flange 6|. The arm 68 is provided with a horizontally extending cylindrical threaded hole 69 for accommodating a threaded portion 11 of a horizontal pin or stem 12 which also passes through the hole 6466 in the arm 63 of the lever 5'3. One end of the stem '12 is of reduced diameter, and press-fitted thereon is an abutment washer '13 that prevents the stem 12 from being screwed out of the threaded hole 6%. The other end of the stem or screw 12 is slightly enlarged and extends through a horizontal opening 14 formed in the end wall I! and, at its outer or free end, the stem 12 is formed with a slotted and serrated thumb-head 16. The stem 12 at a location adjacent the frusto-conical portion 66 of the hole 6466 carries the hereinbefore mentioned frusto-conical centering member 61, which has a frusto-conical or bevel surface 75.

Reference to Fig. 3 shows that the horizontal lever 53 is located on the side of the flange 6| of the arm 68 that is adjacent the end wall I1, and that the cylindrical portion 64 of the hole 64-456 is located adjacent the flange 6|, whereas, the frusto-conical seat portion 66 of this hole is located toward the end wall ll. Furthermore, the conical centering member 61 is located between the lever 53 and the wall I1. With this arrangement, the headed portion of the stem 12 extends away from lever 53 and passes through the hole 14 in the wall I! to a position where it is easily grasped by the operator when the extension plate 20 is raised.

The loop-taker shaft 2'! (Fig. 3) is rotatably supported at one end by a sleeve bearing 11 held in a boss 18 by a set screw 19. This same boss 18 (Figs. 4 and 5) is provided with a threaded hole 8| to thereby receive a screw 82 which holds one end of an offset bracket 83 to the lower end of the boss 18. The free end of the bracket 83 has a vertically extending threaded hole 84 entered by an adjustable stop-screw 86 locked in position by a lock-nut 81. The upper end of the screw 86 is engaged by the lower surface of the arm 52 of the lever 53 when, due to disengagement of the frusto-conical centering member 61 from management with the frusto-conical portion 66 of the hole 64-66, the spring 51 turns the lever 53 in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Fig. 5 (clockwise as seen in Fig. 2) about the shaft 44.

In operation, the instant mechanism functions to provide a quietly operating means that is easily accessible to the sewing machine operator for converting the sewing machine from one capable of performing ordinary stitching operations to one capable of performing darning, embroidering etc. or vice versa.

When the mechanism of the invention is to be adjusted so that the feed-dog 34 is depressed below the upper surface of the throat-plate 3!, the hinged extension plate 20 is raised to the dotted position shown in Fig. 1, and by grasping the thumb-head 16 the operator unscrews the stem 12 from the position shown by solid lines in 6 to the position therein shown by dotted lines. This disengages the frusto-conical centering member 6'! from the frusto-conical seat portion 66 of the hole 64, and disconnects the arm 63 of the lever 53, from the arm 68 of the rock-shaft 44. Since the diameter of the hole 64 is much greater than the diameter of the threaded portion ll of the stem 12, the lever 53 is free to move independently of the feed-lift rock-shaft 44 and its integral arm 68. Under these circumstances, the spring 51' biases the lever 53 to counterclockwise rotation as seen in Fig. (clockwise as seen in Fig. 2), until the lower surface of the arm 52 of the lever 53 engages the stop-screw 35. This drops the arm 52, the pin 5| and consequently drops the link 49, the pin 48 and the depending lug 41, with the result that the feed-dog is dropped or depressed below the upper surface of the throat-plate 3|, as shown in Fig. 5. Since the conical centering member 6? is out of engagement with the seat 66, the feed-lift rockshaft 44, its integral arm 68, and the stem 12 are free to move without causing any movement of the feed-dog 34. This free movement of the stem 12 is indicated in Fig. 5 by the dotted and solid lines 112R, and 12L, the dotted line 12R indicating the raised or uppermost position assumed by the threaded portion H of the pin it. as the feed-lift rock-shaft 44 oscillates and the solid line 12L indicating the lowered or downmost position assumed by the threaded portion H of the pin '52 as the feed-lift rock-shaft fi l oscillates. When the spring 51 has caused the arm 52 to abut the stop 86, it will be noted that the cylindrical hole 64 is in the proper position and large enough to permit free up and down movement of the stem 72.

When it is desirable that the mechanism of the invention be adjusted so that ordinary seaming operations may be performed on the sewing machine, the stem 72 by means of the head it, is

screwed from the dotted position shown in Fig. 6 to the position shown by solid lines. As this is done, the inclined surface 15 of the self-centering member 61 engages the frusto-conical seat portion 66 with the result that, as the screw H is tightened the lever 53 is caused to move clockwise (Fig. 5) about the shaft 44 and against the bias of the spring 51, until the conical flange becomes fully seated in the seat 66. This always brings the feed-dog to the proper height, because there is no chance of the centering member 5'! binding against the countersink 66 until full seating has been attained. When this is achieved, the stem '52 becomes concentric with the hole 64 and the lever 53 becomes clamped to the arm 68. When this occurs, the arm 52 of the lever 53 is raised from contact with the stopscrew [it and whenever the feed-lift rock-shaft 44 oscillates, the lever 53 moves therewith, causing the link is alternately to lift and lower the feed-bar 36 imparting thereto rising and falling movements. In this connection, it will be noted that the conical centering member 61 and the seat 56 are of such size and shape as to easily and properly elevate the feed-dog 34 for ordinary seaming operations when the centering member 61 is caused to engage the seat 65.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what we claim herein is:

1. A feeding mechanism for sewing machines, comprising, a feed-advance rock-shaft, a feed lift rock-shaft having an arm formed integral therewith, a feed-bar of which one end is connected to said feed-advance rock-shaft, a feeddog carried by said feed-bar, a lug depending from said feed-bar, an upstanding link pivotally connected to said depending lug, a two-armed lever having an apertured central hub pivotally carried on said feed-lift rock-shaft, a spring in said aperture in said hub and biasing said lever about said feed-lift rock-shaft, means pivotally connecting one end of said lever to said link, and means for connecting and disconnecting the other end of said lever and said arm formed integral with said feed-lift rock-shaft.

2. A feeding mechanism for sewing machines comprising, a feed-advance rock-shaft, a feedlift rock-shaft having an arm formed integral therewith, said arm being provided with a threaded aperture, a feed-bar of which one end is connected to said feed-advance rock-shaft, a feed-dog carried by said feed-bar, a lug depending from said feed-bar, an upstanding link pivotally connected at one extremity to said depending lug, a two-armed lever pivotally carried on said feed-lift rock-shaft, one arm of said lever being pivotally connected to the opposite extremity of said upstanding link and the other arm of said lever being provided with a funnel-shaped hole having a cylindrical portion and a symmetrical frusto-conical portion the axis of said last two portions being concentric, a stem screwed into the threaded hole in the arm formed integral with said feed-lift rock-shaft, and a frusto-conical centering member carried by said stem for seating in the frusto-com'cal portion of said funnel-shaped hole.

3. In a feeding mechanism for sewing machines having a feed-advance rock-shaft, a feed-lift rock-shaft, a feed-bar, a feed-dog carried by one end of said feed-bar, means connecting the other end of said feed-bar to said feed-advance rockshaft and thereby imparting forward and backward feeding movement to said feeddog, means selectively connecting and disconnecting said feed-lift rock-shaft to said feed-bar and thereby when connected imparting rising and falling movement to said feed-dog, said last means, comprising, a lug formed integral with and depending from said feed-bar, a pin carried by the lower end of said depending lug, an upstanding link pivoted to said pin, a second pin pivoted to the upper end of said link, a two-armed lever pivotally carried by said feed-lift rock-shaft, one arm of said two-armed lever being connected to said second pivot pin, the other arm of said twoarmed lever being provided with a hole, a rockarm formed integral with said feed-lift rockshaft and lying adjacent a portion of said twoarmed lever, a stem threaded into said rock-arm and passing through the hole in said other arm of said two-armed lever, a frusto-conical centering member carried by said stem and arranged to engage said hole, and means for turning said threaded stem.

4. In a feeding mechanism for sewing machines having a feed-advance rock-shaft, a feedlift rock-shaft, a feed-bar, a feed-dog carried by one end of said feed-bar, means connecting the other end of said feed-bar to said feedadvance rock-shaft and thereby imparting forward and backward feeding movement to said feed-dog, means selectively connecting and disconnecting said feed-lift rock-shaft to said feedbar and thereby when connected imparting rising and falling movement to said feed-dog, said last means, comprising, a lug formed integral with and depending from said feed-bar, a pin carried by the lower end of said depending lug, an upstanding link pivoted at one extremity to said pin, a second pin pivoted to the opposite extremity of said link, a two-armed lever pivotally carried by said feed-lift rock-shaft, one arm of said two-armed lever being connected to said second pivot pin, the other arm of said twoarmed lever being aper-tured by a funnel-shaped hole having a cylindrical portion and a frustoconical portion, a rock-arm formed integral with said feed-lift rock-shaft and lying adjacent a portion of said two-armed lever, a stem having a diameter that is considerably less than the diameter of said cylindrical portion of said hole in said other arm of said two armed lever, said stem being threaded into said rock-arm and passing through the hole in said other arm of said twoarmed lever, a frusto-conical centering member carried by said stem and arranged to engage said frusto-conical portion, and means for turning said threaded stem.

5. In a sewing machine having a base with depending front, rear and an apertured end wall, a slotted throat-plate carried by said base, a feed-dog projecting through said slotted throatplate, a feed-bar having a portion which carries said feed-dog, a loop-taker shaft located below and toward the front of said base, a feed-advance rock-shaft located below and toward the rear of said base, and a feed-lift rock-shaft located between said loop-taker shaft and said feed-advance rock-shaft; a feed-dog throw-out, comprising, an arm formed integral with said feed-lift'rock-shaft, an apertured lever journaled on said feed-lift rock-shaft adjacent said arm, said lever being located on the side of said arm nearest the end of said sewing machine base, biasing means to turn said lever about said feedlift rock-shaft, an abutment carried by said base and limiting in one direction the turning of said lever, a member carried by said arm and projecting through said apertured lever, and means carried by said member for selectively connecting and disconnecting said lever to said arm for movement therewith, said member extending through said apcrtured end wall to a location for convenient operation.

6. In a sewing machine having a base with depending front, rear and an apertured end wall, a slotted throat-plate carried by said base, a feeddog projecting through said slotted throat-plate, a feed-bar having a portion which carries said feed-dog, a loop-taker shaft located below and toward the front of said base, a feed-advance rock-shaft located below and toward the rear of said base, and a feed-lift rock-shaft located between said loop-taker shaft and said feed-advance rock-shaft; a feed-dog throwout, comprising, an arm formed integral with said feedlift rock-shaft and extending in a direction away from said loop-taker shaft, an apertured lever journaled on said feed-lift rock-shaft adjacent said arm and also extending in a direction away from said loop-taker shaft, said lever being located on the side of said arm nearest the end of said sewing machine base, biasing means to turn said lever about said feed-lift rock-shaft, an abutment carried by said base and limiting in one direction the turning of said lever, a member carried by said arm and projecting through said apertured lever, and means carried by said member for selectively connecting and disconnecting said lever to said arm for movement therewith said member extending through said 'apertured end wall to a location for convenient operation.

'7. A feed mechanism for sewing machines, comprising, a feed-advance rock-shaft, a feedlift rock-shaft having an arm extending therefrom, a feed-bar operatively connected to said feed-advance rock-shaft, a feed-dog carried by said feed-bar, a two-armed lever having an apertured central hub pivotally carried on said feedlift rock-shaft, a spring in said aperture in said hub and biasing said lever about said feed-lift rock-shaft, means connecting one end of said lever to said feed-bar, and means for connecting and disconnecting the other end of said lever and said arm extending from said feed-lift rockshaft.

8. A feeding mechanism for sewing machines, comprising a feed-advance rock-shaft, a, feedlift rock-shaft, a rock-arm carried by said feedlift rock-shaft, a feed-bar having one of its ends connected to said feed-advance rock-shaft, a feed-dog carried by said feed-bar, a two-armed lever pivotally carried onsaid feed-lift rock-shaft, the two arms of said lever disposed to extend substantially horizontally each from an opposite side of said feed-lift rock-shaft, an upstanding link pivotally connected at one extremity to said feed-bar and at the other extremity to one arm of said two-armed lever, and manual means for connecting and discomiecting the other end of said two-armed lever to the rock-arm of said feed-lift rock-shaft.

9. In a feeding mechanism for sewing machines comprising a feed-advance rock-shaft, a feed-bar having one of its end connected to said feed-advance rock-shaft, a feed-dog carried by said feed-bar, a feed-lift rock-shaft a rock-arm fast on said feed-lift rock-shaft, a two-ar-med lever pivoted coaxially of said feed-lift rockshaft, one arm of said two-armed lever extending on one side of said feed-lift rock-shaft adjacent to said rock-arm and the other arm of said two armed lever extending on the opposite side of said feed-lift rock-shaft, a pivoted link connecting said last mentioned arm with said feedbar, and means for connecting and disconnecting said first mentioned arm to said feed-lift rock-arm, said means comprising a symmetrical frusto-conical member having its axis parallel to said feed-lift rock-shaft, means carried by one of said arms for supporting said member, the other of said arms being formed with a symmetrical frusto-conical aperture having its axis parallel to that of said rock-shaft, means associated with said supporting means for shifting said frusto-conical member axially into and out of engagement with the entire periphery of said frusto-conical aperture whereby said member and said aperture are aligned coaxially.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

